By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Former U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks announced Friday that he is running for Alabama House District 20, setting up a contentious Republican primary battle against first-term state Rep. James Lomax — and drawing an immediate, blistering response from the incumbent.
In a sharply worded press release, Lomax attacked Brooks as an “anti-Trump blogger” and an “opportunist who has spent over 40 years chasing public office for his own ego, not for the people of Alabama.”
Brooks, once one of Alabama’s most visible elected officials, rose to prominence as a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump during his time in Congress. Known nationally for controversial remarks, Brooks later sought higher office, running for U.S. Senate against now-Sen. Katie Britt in 2022. As his campaign faltered, so did his relationship with Trump.
The split between the two became public and bitter. Trump revoked his endorsement and labeled Brooks “woke,” while Brooks responded by openly criticizing Trump in interviews and opinion pieces published on AL.com. Ahead of the 2024 election, Brooks urged Republicans to nominate a different candidate.
“Donald Trump has proven himself to be dishonest, disloyal, incompetent, crude and a lot of other things that alienate so many independents and Republicans,” Brooks said. “Even a candidate who campaigns from his basement can beat him.”
That stance could shape the dynamics in House District 20, which includes parts of the Huntsville area. While the district remains solidly Republican, Huntsville has increasingly trended away from the party’s far-right wing.
In a statement released to the media, Brooks said he outperformed Britt in HD20 during the 2022 Senate race — a showing he claims prompted five elected officials to encourage his run. Brooks also reported raising at least $100,000 to challenge Lomax.
If elected, Brooks would return to the Alabama House after 35 years. He previously served as a state representative from 1982 to 1991 before becoming Madison County District Attorney and later serving multiple terms in Congress.
Lomax dismissed Brooks’ experience as ineffective, accusing him of contributing to political gridlock and achieving little during his decades in office.
“From his do-nothing stints in the Alabama House, Madison County Commission, and U.S. Congress, Brooks has proven time and again that he’s nothing more than an ineffective placeholder,” Lomax said. “While he writes anti-Republican blog posts, I’ll keep working to improve the lives of the people in my district.”
As the race unfolds, the contest is expected to test the future direction of Republican politics in a changing Huntsville-area district.
